FORT WILLIAM co-manager Victor Smith yesterday hailed the commitment of much-travelled Niall MacPhee despite the centre-line star missing today’s Camanachd Cup quarter-final.
The An Aird outfit lock camans with Lovat in the replay for a place in the last four of the sport’s elite competition, against Inveraray.
Sadly for Fort, internationalist MacPhee won’t make the tie as he will be testing artificial sports surfaces in Germany.
The player, known as Rhino, globe trots in his role for a leading sports pitch company but connects to Scotland in order to turn out for Fort.
Today, circumstances dictate the yellow and black shirted outfit will have to make do without their centre-line rudder.
“Niall had planned his trip to Germany in order to make the replay. However, that replay date was changed and there is no way he can move it again,” said Smith.
“It will be a real shame to miss him but his commitment defies belief. Niall has two passports and is literally all over the world. Despite that, he still comes back to play on a Saturday.
“Some people don’t realise he may have flown into Edinburgh that morning and made the 3 hour journey north but it is not something he talks about. He just wants to play Shinty.
“When he was at University in the south of England, he used to pre-book his flights to come home. His attitude is brilliant.”
Fort have also been dealt a blow with the news Niall’s younger brother Arran requires an MRI scan on a knee ligament injury and will not be risked until the extent of the problem is known.
“Arran is a young lad and we’d rather the injury was dealt with correctly now, even if it means missing him for longer. He is a great player and is, obviously, devastated. We’ll just have to see what the scan reveals.”
Lovat have been inconsistent this term but are more than capable of securing a semi final berth.
Scotland striker Greg Matheson will have a late fitness test.
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